Happy 71st Birthday Charlie Watts!
Santigold - House of Blues May 31, 2012
While I thought Santigold’s energy and performance at Coachella couldn’t be beat, her House of Blues show this past Thursday did just that. My friends and I made our way to the front of the stage where the friendly singer was all smiles and eager to get her show underway. Santi opened with some new material and pulled fans on stage for “Creator.” (Among them four of my ladies who tried to hold their own with her two amazing dancers). Always down to have a good time she hopped down to mingle with the audience and kept singing through some ill recieved roaming hands. Santi made light of someone “grabbing her ass” but you could tell it pissed her off.
One of my favorite portions of the show was when her band mates dawned the horse costume and her ladies shed their neon garb for peculiar nun outfits for “Hold the Line” leading in to one of my favorites, “Disparate Youth.” The show wrapped up in less than two hours with her coming back out for one encore and while I wished it were longer there was very little to complain about leaving the show.
-REF
Roger Waters “The Wall”
Live at the Valley View Casino Sports Arena in San Diego 5/13/12
It literally took my breath away when I looked up from turning the flash off my phone and saw Roger Waters standing less than 20 feet away from me this past Sunday. As a Mother’s day treat I took my Mom to go see “The Wall” and it was one of the most incredible shows I have yet to experience. The lights, the effects, the music and the message were so overpowering it is hard to describe.
One of the coolest parts of the show was when Waters preformed with his former self from an Earls Court show in 1980 singing and playing guitar to “Mother”. I didn’t know which Roger to look at and was captivated by how in sync he was with the footage. 30 odd years later and Mr. Waters is still looking as good as ever, sounding as amazing as ever and putting on one killer show.
Waters warned about the dangers of an overpowering government and updated the anti war themes of the 60s and 70s to the capitalistic aspects of America and the materialistic ways that have become a part of our culture.
He built up the wall with each song and with every brick the story of a fallen serviceman, or woman, graced the stage. It was beautiful and unexpectedly emotional.
Who knew how frightening gigantic inflatable figures could be? The horrific teacher referred to in “Another Brick in the Wall” was brought to life in the most surreal way. As was the grotesque mom in “Mother”. “Young Lust” was one of my favorite moments with images of dozens of sultry ladies seducing the audience (via projection on the wall) as Waters serenaded the crowd.
While there are simply not enough words to explain the vividness of Waters production my videos will hope to do the show some justice. Here is “In The Flesh” which opened the show. More videos to follow.
-REF
In for a trip of a treat tonight, taking my mom to Roger Waters The Wall Live. Love you Mom, Happy Mother’s Day!
Lucky - Radiohead at Coachella Weekend One
more videos of last weeks shows:
Noel Gallagher
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3818275540110
Shins
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3818462504784
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3818763312304
Bon Iver
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3819846859392
Radiohead
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3842787032882
Santigold
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3849498440663
Fitz and the Tantrums
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3849636724120
Florence and the Machine
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3854754012049
Snoop Dogg
RIP Levon Helm
Today the world says goodbye to one of it’s greats, The Band’s Mr. Levon Helm who passed away after fighting a battle with cancer, the musician died today at the age of 71.
While Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s song character certainly doesn’t resemble the incredible life led by the late Levon Helm of The Band, the two were fond fans of the drummer and singer and admired him, his band and his music enough to use his name in their song “Levon.”
COACHELLA WEEKEND ONE
With festival withdrawal in full swing I envy those heading out for fun in the sun this coming weekend but wouldn’t trade my experience this past weekend for anything! The food, friends and of course the music were incredible and each day built with a better and better line-up. I think choosing an overall favorite gets a bit too tough but breaking it down by days makes it a bit easier to showcase my top shows.
Friday kicked off my festival experience with The Sheepdogs, one of my newest favorite bands with an old school groove and a wonderfully soulful rock sound. GROUPLOVE brought out everyone’s energy with their hit “Tongue Tied” and standing at the fence for Dawes was one of the best ways to keep out of the unexpected cold.
Saturday was incredible with the main stage being the place to be. Kaiser Chiefs kicked off the evening and then it was a stream of headliners, each better than before and each causing the growing crowd to push closer and closer to the front of the stage where I stood for a very cramped but very worth while 7+ hours. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds were followed by one of my favorites, The Shins where “New Slang” and “Sleeping Lessons” were one of my favorite moments when a live performance sounds even better than the studio. The following hour brought us Bon Iver whose mellow sound kept the crowd in an excited haze for the night’s grand finale…Radiohead! Tom Yorke was unreal and the light show that ensued above the band was out of this world. I couldn’t even feel the sweaty discomfort and roaming hands of strangers in the crowd once the band’s overpowering and surreal performance started.
Finally Sunday brought some of the performances I was most excited for. Band Of Skulls may not have done my favorite “Wanderluster” but their energy was just what the crowd needed in the early afternoon of the third day. Santigold gave one of the most fun shows I have seen, bringing the crowd on stage and dancing herself into a frenzy. Her smile and sheer excitement to be there were contagious and not a person in the crowd could help from grinning at her festive outfits and enchanting vocals. Fitz and the Tantrums was one of my most highly anticipated performances and they certainly did not disappoint. Standing front and center gave me a great view for the band’s passionate and funky stage presence and though many in the crowd may not have known of them before, nobody left without loving the LA based band. Justice may have been about 30 minutes late but they kicked off their set with Genesis, Civilization and D.A.N.C.E. sending my friends and me on off to Calvin Harris happy as can be. Saying that Florence and the Machine was beautiful would be an undeniable understatement. Florence graced the stage with her ethereal qualities and her haunting vocals are still ringing through my ears. Yet, nothing was as haunting and as powerful as the bizarre resurrection of Rap legend Tupac. The crowd went wild to honor the fallen star and when his hologram graced the stage with Eminem and Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre with 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa ended the night and weekend on such a high spirited tone.
To those heading out this weekend ENJOY! To those that were with me this past weekend I know we miss it and to those who couldn’t make it out, my apologies.
-REF
